766 ZOOLOGY OF NEW CALEDONIA, 



number of irregularly set smaller teeth on the outer side anteriorly. 

 The vomerine band does not extend so far backwards but is wider 

 than either of the maxillary bands ; the shape of the band, how- 

 ever, differs inter se, being in the larger example subclaviform, in 

 two of the smaller lanceolate, and in the remaining one foliate; 

 while, therefore, the length and width of this band may in some 

 cases be used as a distinctive character, it is evident that the 

 shape is variable and consequently of no significance. 



Taking Giinther's " Synopsis of the Species'* as a basis of com- 

 parison, we find that my ' specimen a ' belongs to group i., section 

 A, subsection 2, in which " the length of the head is nearly equal 

 to the distance between the commencements of the dorsal and 

 anal tins," while 'specimens b-d' belong to subsection 3 of the 

 same group, in which " the length of the head is conspicuously 

 more than the distance between the commencements of the dorsal 

 and anal fins." 



In the first subsection referred to are placed Anguilla labiata, 

 Peters, from the east coast of Africa, and A. Jir/jiensis, Giinther, 

 from the islands of that name. Omitting the former on account 

 of its geographical distribution, we find that our specimen agrees 

 fairly well with Jidjiensis, the comparative length of the pectoral 

 fin— ra character on which I am not disposed to place much 

 reliance — being the principal difference, while the anterior inser- 

 tion of the dorsal fin is similar in both, f 



To subsection 3 Aiigullla bengalensis, Gray, and A. reinhardtii, 

 Steindachner, are assigned l)y Giinther, the former being des 

 cribed as "very closely allied to A. /a^iVos^Ws," although that 

 species, which is identical with A. anguilla, is referred to a 

 different section of the group, while A. latirostris and A. ayiguiVa 

 are themselves allotted to different subsections. The only dif- 



* Catalogue of Fishes, viii. p. 24, 1S70. 



t Writing of Amjiiil/a Maur'ttana, Giinther remarks (lor. cit. p. 3G) : — 

 " The principil character by which this species may l>e recognised is the 

 advanced position of tlie dorsal fin ;" a few lines farther down he describes 

 Jidjiensi^ as having a still more advanced fin. 



